I don't see how anyone can say that it wasn't even possibly a red. I walked by the tv and just barely saw a replay of the foul. So maybe I missed something but it looked like he jumped and put his cleats in the other guys torso. Is that not what happened? If it is, I'm sorry but that's a red.

quote:Any player who lunges at an opponent when challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent, is guilty of serious foul play.

Source: Laws of the Game

The ref deemed Nani's challenge as one of excessive force and endangering of Arbeloa's safety. Therefore, the call is correct. It could be argued that there was not excessive force behind Nani's challenge, but there is not an argument that it wasn't dangerous.